Half Marathon #5 for 6 for 2026
ERA of….WTF……joy and resistance
Nebraska is my #6 for 6 in 2026. I planned out and completed states 1–4 earlier this year, April through June. I didn't have a fifth picked out — this girl is not trying to run when it's hot. While searching around, I found a half marathon in Salem in September. How perfect. October and November are busy, and I didn't want to run a race in December, so this would be something different: running a half in the city where I work. I'd run a four-miler in Salem a couple of times for their New Year's Day race, but that was it. A half marathon — my jam, in the Witch City. It was a "do it now" kind of decision. So I signed up and paid $100. If I'd planned it out, I probably could have registered when it was half the price. That ship has sailed.
My running training hasn't really been happening. I've been doing strength training two, sometimes three, times a week over the summer. I ran a 10K and did a 5K race, and I've maybe run 3–6 miles some weekends, but I haven't been training. The last half I ran was state #4 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, back in June — it's been four months. I have been doing track workouts on Track Tuesdays, but again, not putting in the miles or time on my feet.
To my surprise, my running sista Ethel was also running the Witch City Salem Half — for her Massachusetts state #45. Neither of us knew the other was running it. For this race, I decided to try the 2/45 method: run for two minutes, walk for 45 seconds. Interval running. I made sure to hydrate and fuel properly, which is always my issue.
The course had a four-hour time limit. I knew I'd finish somewhere between 2 and 3 hours.
It was still dark at the start. Fall was knocking on summer's door — actually, this race fell on the Sunday before the equinox. As expected, it was a very white race, though I did see some BGR (Black Girls RUN!) men out there, which was great. The field was around 800 runners, a good size.
The weather was great for running. I had chill bumps at the start, but I knew they'd vanish quickly.
This course had a lot of inclines and elevation. We started in Salem Willows, going up a hill right out of the gate. I told myself: no matter how I felt, even if I could keep going, stick to the 2/45 interval plan. I did. We ran through downtown Salem, past Salem State, and out to Marblehead Neck, where the homes were enormous and right on the water. The hills were no joke. I got to explore a part of Marblehead I'd never have visited otherwise — good to see how the other 10% live. I pushed through all of it.
I finished in 2:34. Not bad, considering the interval method and the hills. I'll work on training a bit more and hopefully break 2:30 for my next half.
